Volume 35, Winter 2011
Table of Contents
The Impact of Psychosocial Factors on Peritonitis: A Social Work Approach
Shelly D. Crumley, MSW, LCSW
Peritonitis is a preventable infection in people on peritoneal dialysis (PD). Psychosocial factors that may impact the onset of peritonitis include complacency, depression, forgetfulness, expediency, caregiver stress/burnout, and the "pet factor." The clinical social worker is skilled in addressing each of these areas to reduce the rate of peritonitis in the PD population. Intervention methodology, such as motivational interviewing, depression assessment, behavioral therapy, the dispelling of myths, stress reduction, adjustment counseling, and pet relationship significance assessment are utilized to effectively address peritonitis prevention. Patient education on psychosocial factors that may lead to peritonitis followed by appropriate social work clinical interventions may be implemented for a true interdisciplinary approach to peritonitis prevention.
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A Single-Participant Qualitative Case Study: Holism, Healing, and Health-Related Quality of Life in Hemodialysis-Reflections of a Long-Term Survivor
Claudie J. Thomas, PhD
The author, a 28-year survivor of hemodialysis treatments, tells a story of his longevity through some of the precepts of holism. These include emphasizing individual growth and change, healing the whole person, and the role that individuals play in self-healing. The author recounts the roles that social, cultural, religious, and educational institutions played in his healing and his transformation from someone devastated emotionally, physically, and spiritually at first, into someone who feels more complete and vigorous at present. The author also derives practice, policy, and research implications from this narrative, for nephrology social workers helping patients to heal and live full lives.
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The Application of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy with Hemodialysis Treatment Adherence: A Case Study
Mary E. Rzeszut, MSW, LCSW
Individuals diagnosed with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) who choose hemodialysis as their renal replacement therapy normally receive treatment 3 times a week in an outpatient facility. Adjusting to this life-sustaining treatment regimen involves creating a new way of life that challenges the patient's coping mechanisms. Adherence to the hemodialysis prescription is a major problem among people who have ESRD and significantly impacts their treatment outcomes and mortality rates. This study attempts to explore the use of acceptance and commitment therapy as a possible intervention for non-adherence to hemodialysis.
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Benefits and Barriers: An Exploratory Study of Nephrology Social Work Field Education
Teri Browne, PhD, MSW, NSW-C; David Pooler, PhD, MSSW
An important aspect of the profession of social work is the requirement of at least 900 hours of a "field placement" internship for all masters-level social worker (MSW) students as part of their education in accredited U.S. schools of social work (Council of Social Work Education, 2008). The goals of this project are to increase the number of South Carolina dialysis units that offer MSW students field placement opportunities, and to explore professional and personal benefits and barriers for dialysis social workers assuming the role of field educators. Ten social workers participated in the project's interviews about the benefits of and barriers to being an MSW field educator. Ultimately, 6 social workers contracted with the University of South Carolina to accept students for field placement in dialysis units, and 2 students completed their field placement in dialysis units for the academic year 2010-2011. The MSW-level social workers reported several barriers to being field educators: their relationships with the USC College of Social Work, organizational climate, organizational functioning, social work caseload and tasks, professional identity, and general concerns about students. Social workers also identified possible areas benefiting from being social work field educators: organizational climate, patient care, workload, professional obligation, intrinsic rewards, and the fact that a dialysis unit could be a rich learning environment for MSW students.
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Lived Experiences: Hemodialysis and Adherence
Carla A. Ford-Anderson, PhD
This qualitative study, entailing face-to-face, individual, tape-recorded interviews with a convenience sample of 22 hemodialysis patients, examines their lived experiences regarding adherence to the hemodialysis treatment regimen. The 7 open-ended questions capture patients' experiences with coming to treatment, taking medications, and restricting fluids. Content analysis identifies the primary patterns in the data-the themes, words, concepts, and terms that prevail in the responses (Patton, 1990). The findings point out the multidimensional aspects of adherence and patient struggles and challenges, and they may open doors for further research that can identify effective interventions.
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The Feasibility and Patient Acceptance of a Treatment Support Group in the Dialysis Setting
Dawn Haliburton-Rudy; Julie A. Stockard; and Pamela Anderson
A structured treatment support group was conducted with 2 caregivers and 6 people on dialysis who reported feelings of isolation and episodic non-psychotic depression. The patients were medically diagnosed with end-stage renal disease and are currently undergoing in-center hemodialysis for their treatment modality. Participants in the group were recruited on a volunteer basis from 4 DaVita Dialysis clinics located in Fountain and Colorado Springs, CO. The facilitating social workers utilized cognitive behavioral therapy and relaxation breathing techniques for the group. Self-reports were utilized to measure the successful outcomes of the group. The reports indicate that patients perceive group therapy in the dialysis setting positively, and that it is feasible to conduct group therapy in the dialysis setting.
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NKF 2012 Spring Clinical Meetings Social Work Abstracts
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